Richmond Ballet dancers in a production of “Thrive” by Ma Cong. (Courtesy of Sarah Ferguson/Richmond Ballet)
The State Ballet of Virginia is getting ready to take the stage at the state’s fine arts museum.
Richmond Ballet is planning to permanently relocate its Studio Series program to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts starting with the 2024-25 performance season.
The Studio Series is currently held at Richmond Ballet’s headquarters at 407 E. Canal St. The departure of the program will mean the end of the organization’s public performances in the downtown space.
The change in venue will mark a return of the ballet company to the VMFA, where Richmond Ballet used to perform regularly years ago. A driving force for the relocation is VMFA’s plans for a $190 million expansion and renovation project to its facilities, which includes improvements to the museum’s Leslie Cheek Theater, where the ballet will perform.
Brett Bonda
“We always liked being at the VMFA, but we knew the space wasn’t adequate. Then the expansion idea at the VMFA came up,” Richmond Ballet Managing Director Brett Bonda said.
The theater project is planned to include updated light and sound equipment, a stage expansion and other improvements.
Another attraction is that the VMFA theater is a permanent venue, whereas Richmond Ballet has to set up a stage and create ad-hoc dressing rooms out of office space when it performs in its own building downtown.
“Our production department has done and continues to do a phenomenal job creating the right atmosphere. However, that won’t be necessary in the same way at the VMFA,” Bonda said.
Bonda said the VMFA’s amenities and steady stream of visitors, which Richmond Ballet hopes to tap into to fill seats, are other perks. A presence at the art museum is intended to help the ballet organization reach new audiences, too.
“They have a great restaurant and a bar. They have music on certain nights. The collaborations are endless,” he said.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts at 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. (Photo courtesy of VMFA)
Bonda said Richmond Ballet intends to further develop the performance series in the VMFA theater, including plans to create original performances based on permanent and traveling exhibitions in the museum, and have longer seasons. The series likely will be rebranded with the change in venue.
“It’ll be more of a repertory show but we’re going to try to keep everything going that people like about our studio shows,” Bonda said. “I think the intimacy of the studio theater is one of the things everyone likes.”
Bonda said the financial arrangement to allow Richmond Ballet use of the VMFA venue is still being worked out. He said that the VMFA is handling the cost of renovations, but that Richmond Ballet supporters are contributing to the effort through the museum’s fundraising drive.
Richmond Ballet plans to continue to hold performances at the Dominion Energy Center on East Grace Street, where it puts on performances of “The Nutcracker” and other shows.
The organization owns its property on Canal Street and has operated there since 2000. Richmond Ballet’s administrative offices and ballet school will continue to be located there.
The Richmond Ballet headquarters at 407 E. Canal St. (BizSense file)
Richmond Ballet was founded in 1957. The now-20 member professional dance company was established in 1984. Six years later, Richmond Ballet was designated the State Ballet of Virginia by then-Gov. L. Douglas Wilder. The organization has about 100 employees, including the professional dancers.
The nonprofit Richmond Ballet reported $8.1 million in revenue and $5.5 million in expenses in fiscal year 2022, according to tax filings.
Richmond Ballet dancers in a production of “Thrive” by Ma Cong. (Courtesy of Sarah Ferguson/Richmond Ballet)
The State Ballet of Virginia is getting ready to take the stage at the state’s fine arts museum.
Richmond Ballet is planning to permanently relocate its Studio Series program to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts starting with the 2024-25 performance season.
The Studio Series is currently held at Richmond Ballet’s headquarters at 407 E. Canal St. The departure of the program will mean the end of the organization’s public performances in the downtown space.
The change in venue will mark a return of the ballet company to the VMFA, where Richmond Ballet used to perform regularly years ago. A driving force for the relocation is VMFA’s plans for a $190 million expansion and renovation project to its facilities, which includes improvements to the museum’s Leslie Cheek Theater, where the ballet will perform.
Brett Bonda
“We always liked being at the VMFA, but we knew the space wasn’t adequate. Then the expansion idea at the VMFA came up,” Richmond Ballet Managing Director Brett Bonda said.
The theater project is planned to include updated light and sound equipment, a stage expansion and other improvements.
Another attraction is that the VMFA theater is a permanent venue, whereas Richmond Ballet has to set up a stage and create ad-hoc dressing rooms out of office space when it performs in its own building downtown.
“Our production department has done and continues to do a phenomenal job creating the right atmosphere. However, that won’t be necessary in the same way at the VMFA,” Bonda said.
Bonda said the VMFA’s amenities and steady stream of visitors, which Richmond Ballet hopes to tap into to fill seats, are other perks. A presence at the art museum is intended to help the ballet organization reach new audiences, too.
“They have a great restaurant and a bar. They have music on certain nights. The collaborations are endless,” he said.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts at 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. (Photo courtesy of VMFA)
Bonda said Richmond Ballet intends to further develop the performance series in the VMFA theater, including plans to create original performances based on permanent and traveling exhibitions in the museum, and have longer seasons. The series likely will be rebranded with the change in venue.
“It’ll be more of a repertory show but we’re going to try to keep everything going that people like about our studio shows,” Bonda said. “I think the intimacy of the studio theater is one of the things everyone likes.”
Bonda said the financial arrangement to allow Richmond Ballet use of the VMFA venue is still being worked out. He said that the VMFA is handling the cost of renovations, but that Richmond Ballet supporters are contributing to the effort through the museum’s fundraising drive.
Richmond Ballet plans to continue to hold performances at the Dominion Energy Center on East Grace Street, where it puts on performances of “The Nutcracker” and other shows.
The organization owns its property on Canal Street and has operated there since 2000. Richmond Ballet’s administrative offices and ballet school will continue to be located there.
The Richmond Ballet headquarters at 407 E. Canal St. (BizSense file)
Richmond Ballet was founded in 1957. The now-20 member professional dance company was established in 1984. Six years later, Richmond Ballet was designated the State Ballet of Virginia by then-Gov. L. Douglas Wilder. The organization has about 100 employees, including the professional dancers.
The nonprofit Richmond Ballet reported $8.1 million in revenue and $5.5 million in expenses in fiscal year 2022, according to tax filings.
It’s nice to see that the ballet makes a profit and will be returning to its longterm home. Iv3 yet to see a proposed new footprint of the expanded VMFA. Is there one available?